The CSANZ-Bayer collaboration has fostered local talent in cardiovascular disease (CVD) research since 2018, providing two AUD $50,000 Young Investigator Research Grants per year, worth an overall total of AUD $300,000 over three years.

Professor Chris Semsarian, Scientific Committee Chair, CSANZ comments, “we’re pleased to award the 2020 Young Investigator Research Grants in partnership with Bayer, to support Australia’s top young minds in research. It’s particularly impressive to see that the 2020 grant recipients are exploring areas of CVD that are often understudied. Being a leading cause of death in Australia, continued research in CVD is critical and a collaborative approach is key to addressing the burden of the disease.”

About the 2020 winners

Bayer and CSANZ are delighted to announce the two winners of the 2020 grants: Dr Adam Trewin, Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the Institute for Physical Activity and Nutrition, Deakin University was awarded a grant to investigate myocardial mitochondrial regulation by long non-coding RNAs and their role in cardioprotection.

Ischemic heart diseases remain a leading cause of death in Australia.[i] This research aims to improve understanding in the underlying molecular mechanisms of injury in heart cells after a heart attack to inform new ways to improve outcomes in patients living with heart disease.

The CSANZ-Bayer Young Investigator Research Grant will support the project, which also involves collaboration from the Deakin University Genomics Core Facility.

Associate Professor Sarah Zaman, Westmead Applied Research Centre, University of Sydney and Westmead Hospital was awarded a grant to create an Australian New Zealand Spontaneous Coronary Artery Dissection (ANZ-SCAD) Registry.

SCAD is an uncommon emergency condition that occurs when a tear forms in a blood vessel in the heart. Although SCAD is responsible for 40% of heart attacks in young and middle-aged women under 50 years old, up until now it has been under-diagnosed and under-researched.[ii]

The new research will aim to improve the identification of genetic and hormonal predispositions for SCAD and also the use of artificial intelligence in improving diagnosis.

The CSANZ-Bayer Young Investigator Research Grant will support a collaborative Australian and New Zealand study across 15 hospitals.

Bayer supporting local innovation

Bayer believes that collaboration plays an important role in fostering innovation. The company is proud to support local research talent in Australia and New Zealand through its partnership with CSANZ.

“At Bayer, we believe in the power of collaboration to tackle the world’s most pressing healthcare issues and improve outcomes for patients. We’re proud to have partnered with CSANZ over the last three years to support local research talent and promising research projects that may pave the way for future CVD management and prevention strategies. We congratulate the 2020 grant recipients and we greatly look forward to the results of their studies,” says Dr Eduardo Pimenta, Country Medical Director, Bayer Pharmaceuticals ANZ

Date of prep: January 2021 / PP-XAR-AU-0801-1